I remember reading a newspaper article about a church that had been entered after hours three times in less than a month. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Thieves took cash, equipment, and made a mess of the place each time. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â I was struck by what the pastor was quoted as saying after the third event. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â He remarked, ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œI guess we'll just have to start locking the church at night.ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â As the new slang expression goes, ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œYa think?ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â

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I remember reading a newspaper article about a church that had been entered after hours three times in less than a month. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Thieves took cash, equipment, and made a mess of the place each time. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â I was struck by what the pastor was quoted as saying after the third event. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â He remarked, ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œI guess weÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¾Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ll just have to start locking the church at night.ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â As the new slang expression goes, ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œYa think?ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â

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After discussing the first two pillars, which are prepare and protect, we turn now to the third pillar, preserve. It may be best summarized as, ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œRecognizing the threats to resources and facilities and taking intentional steps to preserve them for generations to come.ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â

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No one would argue, protecting people should be the number one priority for any church. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â People are the backbone, the heart, and the soul of any organization, especially the church. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Having said that, the next most important focus should be on protecting facilities and resources. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â

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As I interact with churches, I find there to be a significant drop-off between plans for protecting people and those for protecting facilities and resources. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â While many churches have child safety or a transportation program in place, very few have intentional, regular facility inspection and maintenance guidelines. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â And thatÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¾Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢s a problem. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Many fires, thefts, break-ins, and missing or destroyed equipment can be prevented. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â But it takes an intentional effort. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â LetÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¾Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢s consider these areas of concern:

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Facility Inspection and Maintenance

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With so many volunteers from so many groups using your facility, it is bound to happen that people put things in places, or break something, or create a hazard and not think twice about it. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â The only way to keep on top of hazards is to inspect regularly.

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The first step is a daily walk-around. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â At the end of the day someone should be responsible for checking the facility for open windows, unlocked doors, water leaks, and general hazards. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Anything noted should either be corrected on the spot or marked as a hazard until it can be fixed.

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Beyond that, a monthly inspection should also take place. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â This is a little more in depth than the daily check. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Looking at the boiler room, storage areas, custodianÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¾Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢s closet, general use areas, and out-of-the-way locations should take place. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Again, if possible, corrections should be made immediately. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â If not, the hazard should be marked and a committed, trained maintenance staff or person should fix the problem as soon as possible. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â ItÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¾Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢s amazing how many full blown flooding situations or fires started as a small problem and grew into a major issue simply because it remained undetected or not properly maintained.

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Property Security

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I believe most churches have too many doors open during the day. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â And as a result people can come into the facility undetected or the chances of a door being left unlocked increases. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â

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Years ago, there just wasnÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¾Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢t a big market for choir robes, hymnals, or pipe organs. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â However, in the last decade, much has changed. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â There is much more sound equipment, computers, instruments, cameras, and electronics in general available and exposed. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â And would-be thieves know this. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â They see churches as open and inviting with a gold mine inside.

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Locking doors and windows is a good start to prevent theft. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â However, seriously considering a monitored alarm system and cameras may not be as wild of an idea as you may think. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â The quality of the systems and the reasonable pricing is within reach for most churches. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â To stop and think how much valuable (sometimes even priceless) equipment and resources are in your facility, several thousand dollars invested to protect them seems like a good bargain. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Further, such systems can also detect fires, water problems, and can even summons help in an emergency. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Property and lives can be saved by having such a system.

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Contents and Property Evaluations

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Though you may have done your job trying to protect your facility and resources, sometimes accidents still happen. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â An electrical problem may start a fire. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â A storm may come and level the church building. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â How will you be able to make a good, honest accounting of what you had? Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â The answer is a contents and property evaluation.

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At least annually, a complete inventory should be conducted at your church. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â You will never be able to think of everything after the fact. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â As a result, you will not be able to collect what is due from your insurance provider. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Some churches will do a video inventory while others will get a person to spend the time writing an inventory down. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â However it is completed, it is a good strategy. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â A little side note as to what to do with the inventory: keep a copy off-site. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Some people have done an inventory and made a copy and yet kept both copies in the church building. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â If it burns down or is destroyed, the inventory will be of little value.

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By taking the time to ask the question, ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œAre our facilities and resources safe?ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â you can begin the process of making sure that they are. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â There is a great deal of history and memories there. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â In addition, valuable records and the equipment needed to do ministry, if lost, can seriously disrupt your ministry.

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Take the time. Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Start the process, and preserve what God has given you.